Twitter Apps

Twitter for iOS has been updated, improving search and removing the capability to upload to certain video services. Twitter for iOS will now give you more user and topic suggestions for your search terms based on what happens in real time. You will also receive these suggestions when adding a username or hashtag to a tweet. Additionally, Top Tweets from major past events will pop up when you search terms related to that event.

Twitterrific, the original and yet most modern Twitter app on iOS, has updated to version 5.1 and with it comes a bevy of new features. You get muffling of #hashtags and domains, and you can tap on a muffled tweet to peek at it. Settings are now synced across your devices thanks to iCloud integration, and support has been added for img.ly, mobypicture, and twitpic. If you're on iOS 6, you also get Avenir as a font choice. There are even more improvements and enhancements as well.

Tweetbot for iPhone and iPod touch, Tweetbot for iPad, and Tweetbot for Mac have all been updated to support the new Twitter 1.1 API, and closer comply with Twitter's new interface display guidelines. In other words, to better conform with Twitter's branding and conformity policies. Changes include all avatars moving to the left (previously your avatar was on the right to help your posts stand out), and the way your @username is displayed.

Earlier in the week I compared iPhone Twitter app timeline views, and since fair is fair, it seemed only right that I do the same for iPad Twitter apps. And again, Twitter's cold war with client developers notwithstanding, there's some amazing investment to be found here. Now, while the iPad doesn't enjoy the the breadth of Twitter apps, due to the larger screen there's an even better opportunity for depth. Instead of the 15 + 3 I found for the iPhone, here are 8 + 1 for the iPad.

Twitter for iPhone and iPad has been updated with improved Discover, Search, Connect, and more. Discover now suggests Tweets, Activity, and Trends, Search has improved relevancy, Connect now focuses on interactions, and links in Tweets are directly tappable.

Earlier today Twitter launched a new service and app named Vine. It was a purchase rather than something homegrown, and sits mostly on its own. I'd be tempted to explain the relationship of Twitter and Vine in similar terms to Facebook and Instagram, but frankly Vine is nowhere nearly as good yet.

Phil Nickinson from Android Central has already shared his thoughts on Vine. Here are mine.

Judge not the Twitterrific 5.0.2 update by its point size. More than just the usual bug fixes and performance tweaks lie within. The Iconfactory has added inline image previews that, when tapped upon, launch a new, chrome-less image viewer that still lets you pinch to zoom and long press to get additional options. You also get the new full screen browser and simple reading modes, including Instapaper and Readability, and a new gesture to re-tweet with comment -- just tap and hold the re-tweet button.